NumberOne Academy, an enablement platform for SMEs, has secured Rs 3 crore in a pre-seed round led by T.I.G.E.R Santosh Nair. The company has previously raised Rs 1 crore in the same round, in December 2023.

In a news release, NumberOne Academy announced that the funds will be used to expand its portfolio of business courses in Hindi and other regional languages, as well as to strengthen NOA's standing as a Virtual Business Coach.

Lajesh Kolath and Madhu Bhaskaran founded NumberOne Academy in 2022 as a platform to provide technological and business skills to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The organization offers a comprehensive learning platform with over 60 specialized courses from over 25 business coaches on topics such as growth strategies, sales, marketing, branding, finance, human resources, operations, and technology. This AI-powered platform is supported by in-person lectures and community events, creating a hybrid learning approach that suits a wide range of learning styles.

According to the Kochi-based company, it blends a multilingual AI layer with upskilling courses, digital tools, and community involvement to empower the SME ecosystem. The platform offers upskilling courses to help business owners achieve long-term success and scale operations.

NumberOne Academy has created NOA, an AI-powered chatbot meant to assist SMEs in navigating GST-related challenges. It aspires to develop NOA into a Virtual Business Coach capable of conversing in over ten regional languages and addressing a wide range of business challenges for entrepreneurs.